CropLife Ghana Holds Stakeholders Workshop on Agrochemical Industry Levy System

 

Stakeholders from the agrochemical industry in Ghana

CropLife Ghana recently held a stakeholders workshop on the establishment of an agricultural levy system for agrochemical imports in Ghana.  The advocacy being spearheaded by CropLife Ghana with funding from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) is aimed at reviewing the Environmental Protection Agency Act, EPA 1994, Act 940 to generate levies on imported Agrochemicals to among other things strictly enforce the EPA Act by regulators, sanitize the agrochemicals industry, and provide training for industry players.

In a presentation on the pitfalls in the industry and the need for the advocacy action, Programs Manager for CropLife Ghana, Mr Frederick Boampong, stressed the need to correct the negative media reportage given to agrochemical products by educating farmers on its proper use to ensure safety and quality. Mr Boamong further explained that unlike the fertilizer levy which goes directly into the Consolidated Fund and is solely used by government, the current levy being proposed will be managed by both government and industry for the day to day administration of the industry to ensure sanity.

Participants in a deliberation at the workshop

Presenting on the need for the levy system from the standpoint of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Acting Director of the Legal Department, Mr Kingsley Ekow Gura-Sey, took participants through the proposed sources of funds and management structure of the levy system. He also elaborated on how funds to be generated through the levy system will be used. According to Mr Gura-Sey, a technical committee, comprising representatives from the Pesticides Dealers Association, EPA, Pesticides Industry Association, Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, farmers and a researcher will be constituted to formulate policies on the generation and use of funds from the levy on the industry. Sources of money for the Management Fund include donations, grants, internally generated funds and levies of yet-to-be-determined percentage on the value of both locally produced and imported agrochemical products.

Consultant for the Advocacy, Mrs. Juliet Biney of AGS More Resources said the research was necessitated by challenges identified in the industry by stakeholders. According to her, the levy system if approved will help address the loopholes in the industry.

Participants of the workshop stressed the need to adequately tackle the issue of fake agrochemical products on the market, which is a major problem confronting the industry in Ghana.

The workshop organised by CropLife Ghana forms part of series of stakeholder consultations on the levy system prior to being sent to parliament for approval. It was attended by representatives from the Ghana Agri Inputs Dealers Association (GAIDA) and other importing companies, the EPA, BUSAC, members companies of CropLife Ghana, and the media.

Source: Agriculture in Africa Media| Email: Editor@agricinafrica.com